A Colorado man has been charged with murder and assault for allegedly driving his car down Los Angeles' Venice Beach boardwalk, killing an Italian tourist and injuring 16 others.

Nathan Louis Campbell, 38, of no fixed address, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors on Tuesday said Campbell manoeuvred his Dodge Avenger around a vehicle barrier on Saturday evening before he ploughed into tourists and vendors, killing 32-year-old Alice Gruppioni who was on her honeymoon.

Image Caption:Nathan Campbell appeared in court on Tuesday

He is charged with murder, 16 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 17 counts of hit-and-run. Police said he is not thought to have known any of the victims.

Investigators believe Campbell, who was arrested after walking into a police station several hours after the rampage, was driving his own car, police commander Andrew Smith said.

Cmdr Smith added: "I think we can safely say, when he turned himself in ... he implicated himself in the Venice incident."

Ms Gruppioni, from Bologna in Italy, was married on July 20. She died in hospital.

Her father, Valerio Gruppiono, was a former president of Bologna football club and runs Sira group, which makes radiators.

Image Caption:Tributes left at the scene on Los Angeles' Venice Beach

Venice Beach boardwalk, a 1.5-mile stretch that runs along the sand, is home to galleries, restaurants and tattoo shops.

It can draw as many as 150,000 people on summer weekends and is popular with joggers and inline skaters.